Facebook mulls plan to become game publisher -- report
The company is currently talking with developers about publishing titles and sharing a cut of mobile ad revenue for each title.
Facebook is considering getting into the gaming business as a publisher, a new report claims.
The social network is currently working with a few mobile-game developers to iron out a deal that would see their titles published under the Facebook brand, TechCrunch is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the discussions. The mobile games would generate revenue through Facebook's ad platform, and the world's largest social network would share a cut of that revenue with developers.
Developers and publishers are two very different entities in the gaming space. Developers actually create the game, while publishers are charged with promoting it and helping to sell it. The gaming industry's major publishers include Electronic Arts and Activision, among others.
According to TechCrunch's sources, Facebook is working with small, independent game developers, realizing that they will have a difficult time getting people to see their titles as major companies continue to get so much attention. For the developers, using Facebook as a publisher automatically legitimizes their titles. For Facebook, the deal provides the social network with bundles of leverage and probably solid terms.
CNET has contacted Facebook for comment on the TechCrunch report. We will update this story when we have more information.